In Kangho, of the people who were on the verge of becoming ‘A genius unseen in a hundred years,’ there were three.
The first was the Heavenly Martial Body.
It was said that he had the best body to learn martial arts from birth, and if he received proper training and guidance, he could exert power like that of a mountain.
They say that they could protect their body with cultivation even from most internal attacks, and that they could easily surpass an ordinary level of success according to their efforts.
The second was the Heavenly Killing Star.
They were a genius who could witness any martial arts just once and realize its true intentions. They had the ability to memorize and interpret martial arts by looking at its book just once. It was said that it was a cursed talent because they usually died before the age of 16, and other than that, they were close to being a martial arts god.
And finally—
Telekinesis.
It was said that they have opened their upper vision ever since they were born and were able to interact with the force of nature unlike ordinary humans.
It was known that those with that could fight with warriors without even learning martial arts.
These ones…
And those right in front of Seol-Hwi’s eyes were using it.
He had to find out more if this was innate or if they received a special training, but it was safe to say that it was a fairly high level of telekinesis judging from shaking of the ground and the stones being manipulated.
Gugugug!
“Does one have telekinesis while the other is a warrior?”
Amid the fluttering stones, Seol-Hwi was looking at the eyes of the monster. Of the two bodies, the left one had their palm ahead, while the one on the right side was holding a sword.
It was really burdensome.
It was not just the sword but the amount of demonic energy they had was also suffocating.
Here it comes.
Papat!
The guy who had been moving around kicked the ground. The speed was not too fast, but that was not the problem at all.
Thud!
The stones from the ceiling moved. It was like a raid coming in at once, and Seol-Hwi dodged back for a second, but he soon caught something.
“…?”
Not just the ceiling but the rock wall was also rising from the ground and blocked Seol-Hwi from moving back.
This!
In the meantime, he saw the monster come close. Seol-Hwi stepped on the wall which was rising and immediately did a somersault.
Thud!
The huge greatsword in the hand of the sword pierced where he was a second back and broke the wall.
“Ha!”
Now things had become serious.
Seol-Hwi, who rotated his body in the air, lowered his sword, aiming for the opening in the opponent.
Pack!
However, he could not even push his sword ahead because the flying stones came from all sides.
“Tch.”
So he got down to the ground. And this time, he used his sword and cut in a horizontal motion.
Ssssnh!
Seol-Hwi rolled over, avoided the attack, and quickly widened the distance to examine the situation.
“Ah…”
The bottom was dug deep close to ten paces. It was a scene which showed the power this monster had.
“This is a bit too…”
He spat out the words, and then Seol-Hwi rushed this time.
Wheik
As expected, the stones moved to obscure his vision.
Jung!
As soon as he broke a stone, he had to deal with the hit of the monster with his sword.
Kwaang!
Unable to withstand the blow, one side of the cave had collapsed.
“Cough!”
Seol-Hwi also was pushed back around three steps.
It was not a good situation this time. If he had not managed to push back the blow, he would have been under the crushed cave.
“The level of difficulty is a bit too high…”
If one looked at the power alone, this monster seems to be around the Peak Demon level. In addition, one of them could use telekinesis.
Seol-Hwi wanted to desperately ask how he was supposed to survive against these monsters.
-Cheeky rat.
-Cheeky. True.
As if the monster was annoyed, they began to complain now.
In the meantime, Seol-Hwi began to examine the situation. In the past, when it was a situation which could not be dealt with simply by using overwhelming power, it meant he had to find and aim for a weakness.
The blade too.
Perhaps because it had a great deal of strength, the movement of the sword seemed like an instinctive one.
In other words, it did not seem like it trained on how to use the sword. Even though he almost died, Seol-Hwi managed to discover a couple flaws.
This meant it was quite doable.
Then how do I break through its ability?
The problem here was the monster which was controlling the stones. Rocks were falling, and at that force they would be able to break his bones.
In addition, the location was excellent for its ability, and it was also utilized to block his vision.
The footwork doesn’t have to be swift. It just needs to be beyond what it can predict.
-Die. Now.
-Die. For sure.
Ba-dump
Seeing their reaction, Seol-Hwi was starting to become anxious.
In the past, it was an opponent who he would never fight. But in this life, instead of avoiding it, he tried to fight instead. And this was because he wanted to raise his level by using it, so he gradually was able to understand his own capabilities.
Essence, Energy, and Body.
It was only now that he realized little by little what he was not able to understand before he was able to reach this level.
This time… me first.
Papat
Seol-Hwi took a few steps ahead and immediately performed the footwork. It was not a special method, it was just a basic one to accelerate his movement.
Dududud!
As expected, before he could approach the two bodied monster, a huge rock soared at him.
“Huh!”
Seeing this, Seol-Hwi seemed to wait. Then, stepping on that rock, he jumped. When it came to kicking, there were martial arts being used. It was a technique to kick downwards to move forward.
At the same time, he fell down. And what footwork was being used now?
Papat!
Seol-Hwi decided to take advantage of it. Using the rushing rock attack as a stepping stone, he soared higher.
Wrik!
Then, as if ready for it, the stones began to cover his view.
Seol-Hwi, who had already predicted this, twisted his whole body and pushed it away with his feet.
Then, at that moment, the stones rained down on the two headed monster at once. He used it as a way to reverse the attack.
“Kuaalk!”
Papat
Boldly, he swung the sword. It was a demonic art of tremendous power. However, in the meantime, the distance between the two was decreasing.
Boom!
There it was, that rock wall blocking it. A sharp mass of rocks fell from the ceiling.
And that moment.
The monster rushed at Seol-Hwi as if they had reached an agreement.
“It won’t work twice.”
Chik!
Seol-Hwi stretched out his sword.
And the direction the sword was aimed in was not at the monster, but the falling ceiling. It was directed at the sharp edge of the rock.
Chik!
As soon as the rock was touched by Air Flow, which was rising from the tip of the sword, Seol-Hwi immediately spun it and shot it ahead.
It was a skill with the technique of Taiji.
Kwaaang!
And the two collided.
The monster’s skills which destroyed the rock were strong. However, the moment it destroyed it with all its might—
“…!”
Seol-Hwi would be behind him.
And he managed to take advantage of the opening because he did not attack with full strength but instead just matched its power.
“This is the end.”
Seol-Hwi’s sword, filled with energy, headed for the enemy’s back. To be precise, the point where the back and waist of the two monsters were attached.
In terms of structure, he saw the point where they were entangled with each other, and the monster did not defend themselves but instead prepared to attack.
-Kwak!
-Kwak!
“…!”
Two monsters now with freedom of movement. They did not miss this opportunity and moved to Seol-Hwi.
Tok! Drop!
The hot blood soaked the ground.
The sword of the monster which was digging through the skin as if to cut out the chest was blocked by the hand of Seol-Hwi and did not move further.
Furthermore, the blow of the monster which was not holding the sword was blocked right at the nose.
As Seol-Hwi let go of the sword. He understood where the two were attacking and blocked both attacks with bare hands.
“…I would have been fooled if you hadn’t come out too strong.”
Two people pretended to have one body. At first he thought it was a monster which was made by using humans. But no.
It was a two person team which used powerful attacks and also was able to use telekinesis.
But their act was so natural that anyone would be fooled.
Even Seol-Hwi was fooled at the start, and it was only at the last moment that he felt something was off and was able to react in time.
“Now it is my turn to return the favor!”
-…!
-…!
Flames began to spark into existence in Seol-Hwi’s hand.
Wheik
It moved to the sword of the monster from his body, and as the flame moved it touched its back.
“Ack!”
It was a flame which could be used only when the upper dantian was used.
Kwaaang!
The ceiling began to collapse with a huge explosion, one even stronger than before. The fortunate thing was that the two monsters had been blown up, but the unfortunate thing was Seol-Hwi’s body was in shock.
“Kuak…”
Urng
Even though the cave was collapsing, Seol-Hwi could just groan. Now that his martial arts was weaker, with a body like this, he took on two Peak Demons. In order to kill them, he used all the internal energy in his dantian.
So he did not have the strength to move.
“Dying like this is not fair…”
Ththtud!
He looked at the cave in despair.
It was a good experience, but dying was a bit…
He found such a great enemy.
“Right. In the next life… more than this… Uh?”
Seol-Hwi was on the ground. And something stood in his vision. Unlike the collapsing place, a part of the huge wall at the entrance began to open and gradually expanded the space where people could stand.
“Eh! Come out! What are you doing!”
He felt someone calling him.
Just then, Seol-Hwi let go of his consciousness at the end.
Time of dusk
The Earth Demon was still in his office.
He was looking down at a book on the table.
If it is true that Mount Hua is involved…
Mount Hua was brought in by the First Disciple. It felt troubling to him that it was one of Nine Great Sects and not a random sect.
Mount Hua was overshadowed by the Shaolin and Wudang Sects, but they were open about their greed to take a leap ahead.
So there was no doubt that they would attack. And the First Disciple was now conspiring with them. But as of now, the Earth Demon could do nothing.
“I need proof and evidence which cannot be thrown aside…”
Would this be successful if he went and moved ahead with just his feelings?
No.
The First Disciple must be preparing for all possibilities. And the vessels which surround him are ones with amazing minds.
If they knew, they would think of everything and would be able to discover everything.
Something like “a reasonable reason to ally themselves with a sect.”
“We can think of this then. First…”
It was important to understand their intentions. He needed to find out the reason they allied themselves with Mount Hua along with the impure intentions behind them to gain an upper hand.
He had to prepare carefully to find it, so he would not be at a disadvantage later.
“First, we need to follow the Supreme Pavilion Lord.”
The Earth Demon thought so, stood up, and walked to the window while being lost in thought.
Until someone called him.
“Are you inside?”
“Who?”
“Na Gak sir.”
“Come in.”
Hearing the words, the door opened with a middle-aged man coming in.
It was the one in charge of training the secret warriors.
“Right. What is it?”
“Passed.”
“…What?”
The Earth Demon doubted his ears. He had never bothered to ask about Seol-Hwi.
Surviving in that cave—three months was too long and the chance of death far too high.
But now they say he passed?
“Hasn’t it been three months?”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“Well. The cave… collapsed and…”
He paused and continued,
“The beasts within, all of them. Not just that, he caught the Lost Soul Two Ghost.”
“What!?”
The Earth Demon was shocked.
That ghastly monster had been locked up with a ban placed on it since the guards had a hard time dealing with it.
And he was not defeated by it.
Even if it was not taken down, Seol-Hwi would still be able to pass the exam.
But he took them all down, every last one of them?
“Where is the child?”
“In the basement of the library for the second test.”
“Good. I will go see him for myself.”
The Earth Demon walked to the table, put down the book, and quickly walked out.
In the meantime—
“…?”
Na Gak looked surprised.
As he was walking out the door, he noticed the Earth Demon’s face brighten.
It was a “smile” which he had not seen in years of serving him.